Meliá Hotels International | Future Opening of an Upscale Hotel in Begur, Costa Brava, Spain

Meliá Hotels International, hotel chain founded in 1956 and headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, group which operates and manages a large portfolio of hotels and resorts across the world, will open an upscale hotel in Begur, captivating centre in the comarca of Baix Empordà and province of Girona, in Catalonia,northwestern autonomous community in Spain highlighted by a striking coastline among the most wonderful spots of the sunny Costa Brava.

The current 4 - star Hotel Eety Begur owned by AX Partners, an European Leading Private Equity Real Estate firm focused on single assets funds for qualified private investors based in Barcelona, Spain , has joined the Affiliate Meliá under the management of Summum Hotel Group, leading tourism and hotel management company active in the market since 1986 and headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 

The agreement involve the reform of the hotel and the expansion of its facilities and rising it to a 5 - star accommodation which will join Meliá Hotels International portfolio this spring and will rebranded and renamed as Meliá Begur from 2026, once the refurbishment work will be completed to adapt the establishment to the brand's standard.

The hotel is located at Carrer Francesc Sabater 7 along Platja de Fornells beach in the exclusive Bay of Aiguablava, close to Cala de Malaret and Platja Fonda.

The current establishment provides 42 rooms, which will expanded to 65 after the renovation, various dining options, a spa, gym, swimming pool and meeting rooms.

AX Partners, Meliá Hotels International and Summum Hotels all aims to turn this hotel into a premium haven in Costa Brava to offer maximum comfort and an experience in which every details will be designed for the well - being of its guests.

CEO of Summum Hotel Group, Javier Vich pointed out when explained his commitment to manage this type of establishment stating that the companies highlight highlight the intention of making this hotel a destination in itself due to caried offer and Premium service it offers under a personalized and demanding vision of excellence.

The collaboration between Meliá Hotels International and Summum Hotels is consolidated with this project, already adding five initiatives and continuing the expansion of the luxury and premium hotel offer in Spain.

The Costa Brava, and specifically Begur is experiencing growth in the Luxury tourism, evidenced by a growing demand for exclusive accommodations and persomalized services.

The entry into Begur represents for Summum Hotel Group a milestone in its expansion and reinforces its position in the premium and luxury segment in Spain. With the future Meliá Begur, both hotels group seek to offer a quality tourism ecperiences, reflecting the tourism model they promote.

With this future opening, Meliá Hotels International reaffirms its commitment to sustainable and quality tourism development on the Costa Brava, also consolidating its presence in the autonomous community of Catalonia with 16 hotels as the company stressed in a statement. 

Link - https://www.hosteltur.com/169401_melia-suma-un-nuevo-hotel-en-la-costa-brava-bajo-gestion-de-summum.html

Marriott International | Expanding its Presence in South Asia with a New Hotel Opening in Udaipur, India

Marriott International, renowned American hospitality company based in Bethesda, Maryland which manages, operates and franchises hotels, resorts and vacation properties under several brands across the world announced the opening of a new hotel in Udaipur, India expanding its presence in South Asia.

This opening marks the first presence of Mariott International in Udaipur, a city located in the north - western Indian state of Rajashtan south of the state capital Jaipur. This centre, known as the “ City of Lakes" boasts a relevant cultural and historical heritage as former capital of the Mewar Kingdom, renowned for its Rajputana grandeur, romantic vistas, opulent palaces, lavish royal residences, lush gardens and romantic vistas of the breathtaking Aravalli Hills and Fateh Sagar Lake. 

Udaipur Marriott Hotel is conveniently located at Tigers Hills, Badi Road near Fateh Sagar Lake, 20 minutes from Udaipur City Railway Station and 35 minutes away from Mahrama Pratap Airport offering a a very easy access to all the major attractions of the city.

The property features 226 comfortable rooms and suites offering panoramic views of the lake and mountains, each equipped with plush bedding, spa – inspired bathrooms, well appointed workspaces and high - speed Wi - Fi.

The hotel boasts several curated culinary experiences like Okra, the hotel’s all - day dining restaurant whichs combine traditional local and global cuisine, and The Greatrooms, a signature feature of Marriott Hotels, offers a stylish and inviting space for guests, to connect, relax ad conduct business meetings.

Amenities and recreational facilities include a poolside, a modern fitness centre, indoor games, a Kid’s Club, and 65.000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor event spaces very suitable to host corporate events, meetings, conferences, weddings and social gatherings.

Area Vice President - South Asia, Marriott International, Ranju Alex, expressed her delight at introducing Marriott Hotels to Udaipur, a city renowned for its majestic landscapes and cultural roots stating that as India’s travel landscape evolves, the company remains committed to growing its footprint in established and emerging destinations.

General Manager of the Udaipur Marriott Hote Vaibhav Sagar commented on the hotel’s opening saying that the property is designed to reflect Udaipur’s regal charm offering elegant accommodations, world – class dining, modern event spaces, and exceptional amenities, looking forward to creating unforgettable experiences for every guests.

Link - https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/udrmc-udaipur-marriott-hotel/overview/

Leading Tech Platform Lighthouse Announced the Acquisition of The Hotels Network

 Leading tech platform Lighthouse, a renowned commercial firm operating in the travel & hospitality industry that turns data complexity into revenue growth, characterized by the power to offer opportunities to discover hidden insights, announced the acquisition of The Hotels Network, a cutting - edge guest engagement platform specifically designed for hotels to enhance their direct bookings and revenue optimization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain.

The deal is the first since Lighthouse's $370 million Series C funding round and the acquisition will combine Lighthouse' intelligence platform with AI - driven marketing tech from the Hotels Network that serves over 20,000 hotels in more than 100 countries, including renowned brands like Minor Hotels, One&Only Resorts, H World International and Preferred Hotels & Resorts among others.

This acquisition adds another capability to the Lighthouse platform, which has grown to include pricing intelligence, business intelligence, benchmarking and parity management.

CEO of Lighthouse, Sean Fitzpatrick said that the Hotels Network team has built exceptional technology that helps hotels drive direct bookings through personalised marketing.

By integrating their marketing capabilities, Lighthouse is enabling hotels to transform market intelligence into personalised guest booking experiences.

The Hotels Network says it delivers an average 32% uplift in direct bookings for its hotel partners and is the only platform that combines integrating pricing data, predictive personalization, and cross-channel marketing in a single cloud – based solution.

CEO of the Hotels Network, Juanjo Rodriguez said that joining Lighthouse accelerates the platform's mission of helping hotels worldwide to maximize their direct channel potential.

The Hotels Network combining AI capabilities and commercial intelligence will give hoteliers a powerful edge to capture more revenue.

Link - https://www.travelmole.com/news/lighthouse-acquires-the-hotels-network/

Argentina | Lifted its Exchange Rate Controls However the 30% Tax Surcharge on Tourism Operations Will Remain in Place

Argentina has lifted its exchange rate controls however the 30% tax surcharge on foreign currency purchases including those related to tourism operations will remain in place.

The Argentine Government announced the elimination of almost all exchange restrictions, within the framework of the confirmation of a new agreement with the IMF, the International Monetary Fund and the end of the exchange clamp establishes the elimination of the limit of $200 for the purchase of dollars at the official exchange rate.

As reported by REPORTUR.com.ar the "exchange clamp" that allowed Argentines to buy $200 as savings was established in 2019, when the presidential elections were held that gave Alberto Fernández as the winner and since that date it had not been modified at any time.

The 30% tax surcharge on foreign currency purchases, often referred to as the "tourist dollar” or "Pais Tax" will continue to apply to various transactions, including those related to tourism operations and credit card purchased abroad.

The Government's reason for maintaining the surcharge is likely to discourage excessive foreign currency purchase and helping to stabilize the Argentine Peso.

Some economists believe that maintaining this tax has a collection purpose, since June 2024 the Central Bank has had a current account deficit.

 With this decision the economic team seeks to unify the different exchange markets, and in this sense he communicated a new system of gloating the exchange rate within moving bands.

They will initially be between $1.000 and $1.400, and then have monthly adjustments of 1% and it is expected that the official dollar will settle closer to the ceiling of the band, in values close to the financial dollar. 

Link - https://www.reportur.com/argentina/2025/04/14/milei-fin-del-cepo-pero-se-mantendra-el-recargo-del-30-para-el-turismo/

China | Updated its Tax Refund Policy for International Tourists

China has updated its tax refund policy for international tourists, a positive move for tourism and it is shifting to a refund - upon departure model according to information provided by the STA, the State Taxation Administration.

In this way with the implementation of this change, international visitors can instantly claim VAT at free - stores, enabling them to reuse the refunded amount in real time for further shopping and tourism activities. 

VAT rebates have up to now only been available when flying out of the country and the policy shift was first trialled in airports of important Chinese cities such as Beijing, Guandong, Shamgai, Sichuan and Zhejiang.

STA said that it is now set for a nationwide rollout adding that the streamlined refund policy will enhance the overall shopping experience for international visitors.

Link - https://www.travelmole.com/news/china-streamlines-vat-refunds-for-foreign-travellers/

Egypt | Set a Target to Attract 30 Million Visitors Annually by 2028

Egypt tourism sector is experiencing a strong recovery and is expected to continue its growth trajectory after a very positive 2024, and the Egyptian authorities have set a target to attract 30 million visitors annually by 2028 as announced by President Abdel Fattah El - Sisi.

In 2024 the North African country saw a surge with 15.7 million international visitors, the highest number ever recorded, marking a 6% increase from the previous year and setting a new record for tourist arrivals. 

Projections for 2025 suggest a further increase in arrivals with ambitious goals aimed to revitalize the country's tourism sector that has been affected by the events like the COVID - 19 pamdemic, the war in Europe and the tensions in the Middle East.

The Egyptian Government is actively promoting tourism through infrastructure upgrades and development, marketing campaigns, promoting its rich cultural heritage, expanding hotel capacity, streamline visa processes to facilitate easier access for international travellers and increasing air connectivity.

This plans aim to bolster the nation's economy by enhancing the tourism sector, which is a very significant source of foreign currency and employment. 

Egypt has set a target to attract 30 million tourists annually, a goal that is part of a large, planned strategy to elevate to another standard the tourism industry as a fundamental pillar for the contribution to the Egyptian economy.

The government's strategy to double the 15.7 million international visitors welcomed in 2024 also focuses to the development of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids which promises to become a global cultural hub of relevance attracting a multitude of tourists and having a notable impact in the national economy, and the renovation of the historic Egyptian Museum in the capital of the country, Cairo.

Further plans include developments of new urban centres, a strategic push towards sustainable tourism practices, diversification in the tourism offering and attracting more foreign investments.

Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, emphasized the importance of private sector involvement and international partnerships in achieving these objectives. The plan also include targeted markets and diversify Egypt's tourism offerings beyond traditional historical sites to include beach resorts, eco - tourism, and adventure travel.

Link - https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/Egypt-Aims-to-Attract-30-Million-Tourists-Annually-by-2028

Martinique | Actively Working to Expand its Cruise Tourism Sector

Martinique, a rugged island, in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea, an overseas department and region and a single territorial collectivity of the French Republic is actively working to expand its cruise tourism sector.

This idyllic Caribbean destination characterized by a distinctive blend of French and West Indian cultural influences, pristine beaches, hidden - away waterfalls, green hiking trails, a stunning wildlife, majestic peaks, nicknamed the "island of flowers" confirmed by the several floral gardens scattered all around its territory is highly interested to enter in the international tourism landscape as a relevant cruise destination in the Caribbean region showcasing all its beauty and attractiveness.

The island aims to attract more cruise ships and passengers and this includes strengthening its cruise offering developing a broader ecosystem of related businesses, and addressing industry expectations and opportunities.

The Martinique Tourism Authority has been engaged in strategic meetings with cruise executives and the Florida - Caribbean Cruise Association at Seatrade Cruise Global to understand industry needs and introducing itself with all its potential and tourism offering.

The Island is focusing on improving the quality of shore excursions, cultural experiences, and port infrastructure to create a more attractive destination for cruise passenger, and is working to support a wide network of businesses related to cruise tourism including leisure providers, local merchants, restaurants and hospitality services.

In addition, to increase the destination visibilty the Martinique Tourism Committee has joined the "Cruise Friendly" network, which emphasizes the importance of a warm welcome and exceptional service for cruise guests, according to Cruise Var Provence.

Martinique to showcase its charm and appeal is also highlighting its image in promotions and initiatives its unique cultural heritage, culinary scene, and natural beauty to attract cruise passengers looking for authentic experiences.

The Executive Director of the Martinique Tourism Authority, Bruno Brival on the occasion of the Meeting with the Florida - Caribbean Cruise Association said that the Island has received great interest from major airlines very interested in the Martinique as a destination, and pleased for that, the aim is to monitor in all that can be improved continuing in all what Martinique already does and will do to develop further.

The Executive Director describeb the talks as enriching and constructive, offering a clearer view of the industry's expectations and opportunities and learning a lot. The Martinique Tourism Head stated that it was very interesting to know what guests are looking for, what they expect from Martinique as a destination.

The meetings come at time when Martinique is looking for to strengthen its cruise offering and support a broader ecosystem of companies linked to the sector.

Link - https://www.soualiganewsday.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=61214:martinique-sets-sights-on-cruise-expansion&Itemid=519